131: A performance of "Erquan Yingyue" is presented as a gift, returning the celestial music.

"Heaven-Defyingly changing fate?"

For the first time, a look of shock appeared on Gai Jiuyou's ancient, calm face.

He "looked" at the Youth in White Robes before him who had spoken such shocking words, his voice trembling.

"Fellow Daoist... are you serious?"

This was no small matter.

It was Heaven-Defying!

It was making an enemy of the entire Great Dao Law!

The Dao injuries on his body were caused by the true Great Emperor Law when he contended with the Azure Emperor back then. Unless another Great Emperor intervened, there was no solution!

Could it be... an extremely absurd yet heart-pounding thought began to grow wildly in his mind.

This young man before him... was also... a Great Emperor?!

Li Daoxuan did not answer directly.

Empty promises were the cheapest.

To make an old monster who had lived for nearly ten thousand years and whose mind was as firm as a rock believe him, he had to... show something real.

Moreover, he had to find a way to utilize the System, his "Golden Finger."

Li Daoxuan's gaze fell on the simple instrument in Gai Jiuyou's arms.

It was an Erhu.

An ancient instrument that was extremely rare in this world, and perhaps even lost to time.

His heart stirred as an idea came to him.

"Senior, empty talk is useless."

Li Daoxuan smiled slightly and reached out his hand toward Gai Jiuyou.

"Could I... borrow Senior's Huqin for a moment?"

"Junior is untalented, but I know a bit about music."

"I wish to play a piece for Senior."

Gai Jiuyou was stunned.

Play a piece?

He was somewhat puzzled.

But looking at the other's clear and confident eyes, he still, as if possessed, handed over the Erhu that had accompanied him for thousands of years and which he valued as much as his own life.

Li Daoxuan took the Erhu.

It felt cold to the touch.

The body of the instrument was covered in cracks from the passage of time, and the strings had long since lost their luster.

But Li Daoxuan could feel that within this seemingly dilapidated Huqin, there was an extremely pure yet profoundly sorrowful... Dao Rhyme.

He placed the Erhu on his lap and tested the notes.

Then, he closed his eyes.

In his mind, a world-famous piece from his distant hometown, also filled with sorrow and unwillingness, slowly emerged.

The next second.

He moved.

"Yi—ya—"

A long and plaintive melody slowly flowed out from beneath those two simple strings.

The music was very light.

Like a down-and-out scholar sighing alone under the moon.

The music was very astringent.

Like a pot of bitter wine entering the throat and burning the heart.

The music was very sorrowful.

It told of all the world's vicissitudes, hardships, and injustices!

In an instant.

The entire noisy marketplace seemed to have its mute button pressed.

Everyone's movements came to a halt.

They instinctively followed the sound.

They saw the youth sitting in front of the teahouse, dressed in clothes as white as snow, playing the instrument with his eyes closed.

They didn't understand music.

But they could feel it.

In that music, there was a story.

There were... tears.

And as the only true listener.

Gai Jiuyou's thin frame shuddered violently!

His empty eye sockets suddenly "looked" at the youth playing the instrument, his face filled with unbelievable shock!

He understood.

He understood it all!

From that melody, he heard a blind artist's longing for light!

He heard a fallen hero's struggle against fate!

He heard... himself!

The music seemed to turn into scrolls of paintings, slowly unfolding in his long-withered Sea of Consciousness.

He saw his own high spirits as a youth, when a single sword strike suppressed all the Prodigies of his generation.

He saw his grand ambitions in middle age, when he braved the Forbidden Zone of Life alone with his instrument, carving out a bright future for the Human Race.

He also saw... his own loneliness and unwillingness in his twilight years.

On the path to becoming an Emperor, he was one step short, and the Great Dao became hopeless.

He could only watch helplessly as his blood and Qi withered, his Lifespan neared its end, and he turned into a pile of yellow earth.

Nine thousand years of persistence.

Nine thousand years of loneliness.

Nine thousand years of resentment.

At this moment, it was all vividly portrayed by this "Erquan Yingyue" from another world!

"The one... who knows me..."

Two streaks of turbid bloody tears slowly slid down from Gai Jiuyou's empty eye sockets.

His heart, which had been silent for nine thousand years, at this moment, produced an unprecedented... resonance with that sorrowful music!

And just then.

In Li Daoxuan's mind.

The long-awaited System notification finally arrived as expected!

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host is gifting the world-famous score "Erquan Yingyue," which possesses the Concept of "Great Sorrow," to the "Quasi-Emperor Gai Jiuyou"!]

[The target character has developed a strong resonance, and his Dao Heart has received a massive impact!]

[System judgment: The gift is valid!]

[Randomly drawing the critical hit multiplier...]

[Congratulations to the host! Triggered a thousand-fold critical hit!]

[The returned reward for this time has been issued, please check!]

Li Daoxuan was delighted, but his movements didn't stop for a moment.

At this moment, the music suddenly shifted!

It was no longer the previous desolation and sorrow.

Instead, it turned into... a soaring pride that shouted in adversity and struggled in despair!

It was as if it were telling the world—

My fate is mine to command, not the heavens'!

If the heavens wish to destroy me, I shall defy the heavens!

"Zheng—!!!"

The last note fell.

The lingering sound curled around the rafters, not fading for three days.

Li Daoxuan slowly opened his eyes and handed the still-vibrating Erhu back to Gai Jiuyou, who was completely dazed.

"Senior."

"The piece is finished."

Gai Jiuyou did not take it.

He was still immersed in the immense shock brought by the piece just now, unable to extricate himself.

After a long time.

He finally spoke with a trembling, raspy voice.

"This piece... what is its name?"

"Erquan Yingyue," Li Daoxuan said calmly.

"Good... what a fine 'Erquan Yingyue'..."

Gai Jiuyou muttered to himself, and the two flickers of flame in his eyes that were about to go out began to burn again.

As for Li Daoxuan.

He slowly stood up.

He knew the timing was right.

He gathered the massive flow of information about a brand-new score, which he had just obtained from the System, at his fingertips.

That was a piece... that was not just music, but a supreme immortal method capable of Heaven-Defyingly changing fate and reshaping the Dao foundation!

[Undergoing Tribulation Immortal Music]!

"Senior."

Li Daoxuan's voice carried an undeniable confidence.

"'Erquan Yingyue' was just an appetizer."

"What can truly help you Heaven-Defyingly change your fate..."

"Is this."

As he spoke.

He pointed his fingers like a sword, and under Gai Jiuyou's shocked gaze.

He directly tapped his forehead!

"Use this piece to cleanse your Dao Heart."

"Living a second life should not be a problem."

"As for whether you can make up for the regrets of the past..."

The corners of Li Daoxuan's mouth curled into a playful arc.

"That will depend on... Senior's own fortune."